Nile Excellence Nile Cruise
A five-star Nile cruiser offering Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabins, plus a sun deck, lounge bar, dining room and accommodation with panoramic windows or balconies overlooking the Nile.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Thu
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
Nile Excellence Nile Cruise is an eight-day Nile cruise vessel serving Luxor and Aswan, arranged through Discovery Tours Egypt.
·In summary
Nile Excellence sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan in both directions, linking major sites in Upper Egypt. Its shore-excursion programme includes six named stops, from Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings to Philae Temple.
- Luxury
- Cultural
- Archaeology & history
- Couples·
- Seniors·
- Groups
Snapshot
Good to know
- Accommodation
- Five-Star Nile Cruise
- Destinations
- Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Includes
- Cabin in the booked class · Full board from embarkation lunch to disembarkation breakfast · Scheduled shore excursions in the vessel's programme · Use of the sun deck · Use of the lounge bar · Use of the dining room
- Best for
- Travellers seeking a full-board Nile cruise · Guests who value spacious cabin choices · Travellers interested in guided shore excursions · Couples and families sharing a cabin
- Discovery Tours Egypt selects, books and arranges the Nile Excellence cruise; the cruise supplier owns and operates the vessel.
What lingers
- 01A four-day cruise along the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way.
- 02Scheduled morning visit to Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings with our licensed Egyptologist.
- 03Late-afternoon cruise through Esna Lock – we avoid peak lock queues by timing departures around local schedules.
- 04Aswan stop includes Philae Temple visit plus time at the High Dam; entrance fees standardly included.
- 05Cabins with private balconies allow uninterrupted Nile views; we do not operate mass coach-shore shuttles.
- 06All meals onboard are included; lunches ashore available by request to meet dietary requirements.
02Overview
A first look
At first light the Nile lays a pale band along the rail and the teak of the sun deck still holds the cool of the night, while the river's gentle slap sets the day's tempo. Mornings are often spent watching feluccas pass from a shaded lounger or on a Nile-view balcony; evenings bring a quieter dinning-room service as the cruiser slips between Luxor and Aswan.
We arrange embarkation formalities and your Egyptologist will meet you on board to introduce the shore-excursion programme. We do not run coach-based group tours, and unlike many day-boat schedules we space visits to reduce midday heat rather than rush through sites.
Background
The facts
Nile Excellence is a Nile River cruise vessel sailing between Luxor and Aswan in Upper Egypt. It is arranged through Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator; the vessel is owned and operated by its cruise-line supplier. Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, and many have panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies. Public areas include a sun deck, lounge bar and dining room.
The sailing connects Luxor and Aswan, with embarkation and disembarkation in either city according to direction. The excursion programme includes Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, Edfu’s Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple and the Valley of the Kings. The vessel sails weekly in both directions, with time alternating between sailing and visits ashore.
Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple form part of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. The Valley of the Kings lies on Luxor’s West Bank. Edfu and Kom Ombo preserve major Ptolemaic-era temples, while Philae is included in the UNESCO-listed Nubian Monuments site, inscribed in 1979.
Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day; drinks (including water) are generally extra. Shore visits follow the vessel’s programme, and site opening hours vary by location and season. Cabin access and views depend on the booked grade; specific cabin dimensions are not provided.
Named in this entry
Nile Excellence·Nile River·Luxor·Aswan·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·Edfu·Horus’s Temple·Kom Ombo’s Temple·Philae Temple·The Valley of the Kings·Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis·Nubian Monuments
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits first-time visitors, couples and adults who want a structured Nile journey with a spacious cabin, set mealtimes and organised visits to major temples. It is a good fit for travellers who prefer travelling by river with a shore-excursion programme rather than arranging each stop independently.
Maybe not, if
- Choose a different holiday if you need step-free access throughout or want to explore sites at your own pace without scheduled excursions. The repeated visits involve steps and uneven ground, and May to September brings intense heat.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Cabin grades include Standard, Deluxe and Suite options
- Sun deck, lounge bar and dining room provide space between visits
Things to Consider
- Scheduled shore excursions leave limited time for independent sightseeing
- Ancient sites involve steps and uneven surfaces
- Drinks (including water) cost extra
- May to September heat can make site visits tiring
Worth knowing
How this compares
Unlike point-to-point Nile transport, this cruise combines river sailing with scheduled visits to major temples and archaeological sites. We select and arrange the vessel and its listed excursion programme; the cruise supplier owns and operates the vessel.
The route
Luxor and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
- Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan
Both directions
Where this ship sails
This vessel works more than one stretch of the river. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.
On board
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Bundled in
- Full board
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Stay aboard Nile Excellence in the cabin class booked
- Full board, from lunch on embarkation day to breakfast on disembarkation day
- Shore excursions scheduled in the vessel’s programme
- Access to the sun deck, lounge bar and dining room
Not included
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Optional or premium outings and extra admission fees for special sites, including the interiors of pyramids
- Tips for cruise staff and Egyptologists, unless specifically requested
- International or domestic flights to or from the ports where you embark and disembark
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Ask which side of the vessel your booked cabin faces, as river views vary with cabin position and sailing direction.
- 02
Confirm the cabin category and whether it has a balcony or panoramic window before booking; these features are not listed for every cabin.
- 03
Budget separately for drinks (including water), optional excursions, premium site supplements and staff gratuities.
Tailor it
Make it yours
The shore-excursion programme follows the vessel’s schedule, so independent time at each site may be limited compared with a privately arranged land itinerary. Ask us about adding optional visits or premium site access, such as pyramid interiors, which are not included in the cruise price. Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabins offer different grades; a single supplement typically applies when travelling alone.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Where it fits
The Nile Excellence fits between a Luxor stay and an Aswan stay, linking the temples and tombs of both cities with shore excursions along the Nile. It sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, so the direction can be matched to the rest of your Egypt itinerary.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The Nile Excellence has several physical constraints that matter for guests with reduced mobility. Embarkation normally requires walking along a fixed gangway and stepping down into the vessel; some ports use a short ladder-style gangway. The vessel has steps between decks, narrow corridors and cabins with threshold steps, which limit wheelchair access. Shore excursions include uneven ancient stone, steep temple steps and soft sand at some river landings. Wheelchair users or guests needing one-to-one assistance should contact us before booking so we can discuss assistance options, check cabin availability with low thresholds, and confirm whether a portable ramp and staff help can be provided at the planned ports. We do not guarantee full wheelchair access on all sailings, and several sites visited have no ramps or lifts. If you travel with mobility aids, tell us the type and dimensions so we can advise on practicalities for embarkation and individual shore landings.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The vessel is powered by conventional diesel engines with on-board generators for electricity. On board, the cruise line offers towel and linen reuse options and encourages guests to reduce energy and water use. Fresh produce and provisions are sourced from markets and suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, supporting local growers and small traders. Shore excursions use locally licensed Egyptologists and locally registered boat crews for small-boat transfers, keeping revenue within the towns visited. Transfers between port and sites use coach or private car suppliers; where possible we prioritise companies using modern minibuses with Euro-standard engines. We ask guests to avoid single-use plastics, to follow archaeological-site rules about litter and protection, and to tell us in advance if you have specific sustainability priorities so we can confirm supplier practices for your departure.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- A valid passport and any visas required
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher and sunglasses
- Wide-brim hat or cap and a refillable water bottle
- Small daypack for shore excursions and personal items
- Medication and a copy of any prescriptions
- Light waterproof or windproof layer for early mornings
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting daytime clothing
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes for archaeological sites
- Light jumper or cardigan for evening dining on deck
- Scarf or sarong for sun or modesty cover
Children & families
Minimum age for cabin accommodation is 2 years. Child fares are usually reductions for children sharing a cabin with two adults; infants under 2 may travel at a lower percentage of the adult fare but must occupy the parents' cabin. Cots are available on request and must be confirmed at booking. Strollers are not practical on board or at many landing points because of gangways and uneven surfaces; baby carriers are more practical for shore visits. Please tell us exact ages at enquiry so we can confirm cabin configurations, availability and pricing for your departure.
Prices by sailing
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double cabin. Each price covers the full sailing, the guided sightseeing programme along the route, and your arrival and departure transfers between the vessel and the local airport or railway station.
| Sailing | October – Aprilcurrent season | Peak dates18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Luxorembarks Mondays | October – April: from £912single cabin £1,315triple cabin £912 | Peak dates: from £1,056single cabin £1,632triple cabin £1,056 |
| 4 nights · Luxor → Aswanembarks Thursdays | October – April: from £1,120single cabin £1,658triple cabin £1,120 | Peak dates: from £1,312single cabin £2,081triple cabin £1,312 |
| 7 nights · Luxor → Luxorembarks Thursdays | October – April: from £1,745single cabin £2,687triple cabin £1,745 | Peak dates: from £2,082single cabin £3,427triple cabin £2,082 |
| 7 nights · Aswan → Aswanembarks Mondays | October – April: from £1,761single cabin £2,702triple cabin £1,761 | Peak dates: from £2,097single cabin £3,442triple cabin £2,097 |
Peak dates: 18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr. Choose your sailing and date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Cabin allocation
- Nile vessels do not have interconnecting cabins.
- Book early and we will ask the vessel to place your party together — usually adjacent, or directly opposite.
- Cabin numbers are confirmed by the vessel at check-in.
These fares are a guide, as prices and cabins move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.
Add Cairo before or after your cruise
The ship stays between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights back to the UK, are in Cairo. These short extensions link the two.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
What you receive back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your holiday you let us know and the kind of holiday you book. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Location
On the map
While you're here
Worth pairing
- Karnak TempleRight here
- Luxor TempleRight here
- The Valley of the KingsRight here
- Edfu Temple of HorusRight here
- Kom Ombo’s TempleRight here
- Philae TempleRight here
Why book this with us
Three reasons, stated plainly
01
Premium site extras remain separate from the cruise price
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How long is the Nile Excellence Nile Cruise?
This product is listed as an eight-day Nile cruise. The vessel sails between Luxor and Aswan, with the order depending on the sailing direction. The exact embarkation and disembarkation dates should be checked against the selected departure, as the vessel’s programme runs weekly in both directions.02Which places does the Nile Excellence visit, and where do I embark?
The vessel’s shore-excursion programme includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Embarkation and disembarkation are in Luxor or Aswan, according to the sailing direction. Flights to and from those ports are not included, so check your arrival timing against the confirmed sailing.03What meals and facilities are included aboard the Nile Excellence?
Full board covers lunch on the embarkation day through breakfast on the disembarkation day. Guests can also use the sun deck, lounge bar and dining room. The scheduled shore excursions are included as listed in the vessel’s programme. Check the final booking details for the confirmed excursion schedule.04What costs extra on the Nile Excellence Nile Cruise?
Drinks (including water), optional excursions and special-site entrance supplements are not included. Gratuities for cruise staff and Egyptologists are also excluded unless requested. Flights to the embarkation or disembarkation port are separate. Pyramid interiors are an example of a site extra, so confirm any additional visit before travel.05What cabin types are available, and is there a single supplement?
Nile Excellence has Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabin grades, with panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies in many cabins. Cabin features can vary by grade, so check the details for the cabin offered before booking. Prices are based on sharing; a single supplement typically applies if you want a cabin for sole use.06Is the Nile Excellence suitable for children?
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; 6–11.99 years pay 50%; 12+ pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents (maximum one child per cabin); two or more children require their own cabin. Ask us to confirm cabin availability for your family’s dates.07How accessible is the Nile Excellence for guests with limited mobility?
The available information does not confirm step-free access or cabin accessibility aboard Nile Excellence. Shore excursions at ancient sites may involve uneven stone, steps and walking across open ground. If you have mobility needs, tell us before booking so we can check the vessel and excursion arrangements rather than assume access is suitable.08What should I wear and bring on the Nile Excellence cruise?
Pack light clothing, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream for time on deck and at archaeological sites. Modest clothing is advisable at temples and mosques, with shoulders and knees covered. A light layer can be useful in the evening, particularly during the cooler winter-sun season.09Can I take photographs during Nile Excellence shore excursions?
Photography rules vary by site and may differ between outdoor areas, tombs and museum spaces. Follow signs and instructions from site staff, and check before photographing people. Some locations restrict cameras or charge separately for photography; the excursion information provided for your sailing can clarify any site-specific rules.10When is the best time to sail on the Nile Excellence?
October to April generally brings cooler conditions for visiting Luxor, Aswan and the Nile’s archaeological sites. From May to September, daytime heat can make outdoor visits more demanding, so carry water and sun protection. The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan; choose dates with the climate and your heat tolerance in mind.
Last updated 8 March 2025Product ID: CRU-NIL-580202
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